Fule: Eastern Partnership to enable its participants to apply for EU membership eventually

The implementation of the Eastern Partnership program will enable its participants to not only bring their countries closer to the European Union, but at some point apply for EU membership, European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule has said.

In an interview with the Euractiv Web site, the European Commissioner said that the Eastern Partnership was aimed at introducing European standards in the countries taking part in the initiative.
"We need to make its absolutely clear to our partners that it is through this initiative and various programs that they will be able to build more of the European Union inside their countries," he said.

"And it is through this process they will not only pull their countries closer to the European Union, but at a certain time they will be able to put their European aspirations on the table, according to Article 49 of the Lisbon Treaty," Fule said.